Motion picture projector cabinet



061. 6,v 1931. A, STUBER 1,826,680

MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR CABINET F1166 sept. 2, 1927 s Sheets-sheet 1 A. STUBER MTION PICTURE PROJECTOR CABINET Oct. 6, 1931.

Filed Sept. 2. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1931. A. s'rUBER MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 2, 1927 IL Sube,

Patented oct. e, i931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADOLPH BTUBER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIKGN'OR. TO EASTIAN KODAK COH- PAN Y, F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, BPOBATION OF NEW YORK uo'i'roNy rrc'ruan rnomc'rox cani-NET Application illed September 2, 1827. Serial No. 217,188.

This invention relates to motion picture projectors and particularl to a projector housed with a soundreprodlicing instrument in a common cabinet.

While there have been numerous suggestions that a motion picture projector and a phonograph be housed in a common housing, the structures of this type have been very limited in` their usefulness. It has been generally considered necessar to mount a small screen on the cabinet an project a picturel upon this. This has limited the picture to one of very small area, not sufficiently large to be pro erlyseen from all points of a large room. oreover, all such projectors have been limited to a single exhibiting space. It has not been possible, without movement of the bulky piece of furniture, to change the position ofthe projection screen.

I have overcome these objections bymounting the projector as a Iwhole on a rotatable support in a cabinet, and pro'ecting a picture in any desired direction to t e most suitable location for a portable screen. It is then ossible to place the cabinet, as an article of urniture, in an unobtrusiveposition, as may be most convenient with respect to the other furniture and the architectural features of the room, and to project the beam in any denet to a screen in such a position as best suits the spectators.

Furthermore, I include with this freedom of position for the screen certain structural features adapting the projector cabinet partcularly for use with a .phonograph or radio apparatus. There is unavoidably a certain amount of noise attendant upon the operation of a motionpicture projector and this is decidedly objectionab e when accompanying music is bein rendered. I have overcome this objection y entirelyenclosing the proector and its mechanism, and projecting the am through a'window or openin in the cabinet that rmits the projection am to am but mu es Ior encloses the sound. This is done preferably by mountin one .of the parts of the optical system in t 1s window, providing a structure that permits the beam to be swung freely as the projector is turnd.

sired direction without movement of the cabi- It is furthermore necessary to mount the instrument and the movable parts accessory to it in such a way that they will not interfere with the projected beam.

Other objects and advantafres of my invention will appear from the followin description wherein reference is made to t e accompanying drawings in the several gures of which the same reference characters denote the same parts throughout, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view|showing a cabinet equipped wit a motion picture projector constructed in accordance with and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with all the covers in a raised position; f ,f

Fig. 3A is a fragmntary detail section through a portion o th mechanism shown in Fig. 2, being a sectiontaken on line 3-3 of Fi :2, the cover being closed;

ig. 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of m invention, parts being omitted for the sake o clearness;

Fig. 45 is a vertical section of a third embodiment of my invention; v

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a fourth embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of still another I0 embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

As shown in the first three figures, a preferred embodiment of my invention may consist of a cabinet l provided with a series of l5 compartments 2, 3, and 4. Each of these `compartments may have separate covers 5,

6, and 7 and separate doors 8, 9, and 10 which permit access to at least one side of the appazatuscontained in the compartments. Sections 3 and 4 may contain sound reproducing instruments such as a phonogra hshown diagrammatically at 11 and a ra. io 'apparatus shown diagrammatically at 12. Section 2 in accordance with my invention is provided with a motion picture projecting mechanism designated broadly as 13, this machine being adapted to project a beam of light in any direction with res ct to the cabinet 1. l

In the present germ the beam of light may '"0 be controlled by turning the entire motion picture machine 13 upon a sup orting table 14 which may be rotated (see ig. 3) upon a shat 15 by means of the gear 16, pinion 17, shaft 18, and handle 19.

Referring particularly to Fi 3 the turntable 14 is preferably provide with an upwardly extending support 20 which supports a second tubular member 21 inside of which a tubular'liousing 22 is slidabiy mounted, the outside of housing 22 contacting with and being fastened upon the inside of tube 20. Housing 22 su ports a prism 23, an objective 24, and a re ector 25, this optical system bein adapted to project, from a film F locate in the lm gate 26, an image along the path designated by'the heavy dot and dash line L.

I prefer to move the objective 24 in a tube 27, which, with tube 28 and housing 22 forms a focusing mount of a well known type which may be adjusted by a knurled ring 29. This apparatus permits the image to be properly focused on the screen. Condensers 30 concentrate the light beam from lamp 31 and reflector 32 upon the film gate. The lamp 31 is carried in a socket 33 supported on the turntable 14.

A. reliector is preferably pivoted at 34 so that it may be angularly adjusted by means of the screw 35, this construction being useful to vary the angle of the light beam normally passing out horizontally to a projection screen mounted at any desired distant point. This screen may be higher` than the reflector in which case the reflector 25 may be correspondingly tilted so that the picturel will be centered upon the screen. Where I refer' in the specification and claims to the horizontal beam I refer to the light beam the axis of which is indicated by the dot and dash line Z which is substantially horizontal, but which may be inclined somewhat from a horizontal direction for the reason above described.

It should be noted that the pulldown mechanism indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2 at 37 together with the sprockets 38 are located outside of the tubular housing formed by members 20 and 21. These members form a substantially sound-proof connection between the turntable 14 and the cover section 5 which normally encloses a motion picture projector in section 2 of the cabinet 1.

As also shown in Fig. 2 the film F may be wound from a su ply reel 39 upon a sprocket 38 which feeds to a loop 40 from which the pulldown 37 intermittently moves the film to a second loo after which the film asses over sprocket to the takeup reel 42. gince the articular type of motion picture projector orms no part of the present invention, I have shown only such parts as are necessary for an understanding of the in'- Vention.

Referring to Fig. 3 the cabinet cover 5 is provided with an opening 43 which may bc covered by a door 44 hinged at 45 when tln` housing 22 has been moved downwardly so that the parts lie beneath the cover 5 in the position indicated by broken lines. As will e readily seen when the motion picture projector is not in use, it is entirely enclosed in the cabinet section 2. (lne feature of my invention is the enclosing of the working parts of the motion picture projector in such a manner that the noise will be greatly rcduced if not entirely eliminated, so as not to interfere with the sounds 'from a sound reproducing instrument.

In the first described embodiment of my invention the entire motion picture projector 13 was niovably mounted. In the second embodiment diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4 the film reels 52 may be mounted upon supports 53 fixed in position on the partition 54 of the cabinet'55. The film moving mechanism including the pulldown 56, and sprockets 57 together with the optical s 7stein including the lamp 58, condenser 59, re ector 60, and objective 61 may be mounted upon a relatively small turntable 63, and this table may include a gear 64 meshing with pinion 65 on shaft 66 which ma 4be turned by a handle 67 to adjust the ang e of the projected picture. The axis of rotation asses through the objective 61, and as the tabge 63 is turned by the handle 67 the size and shape of the film loo 68 is altered between the sprockets 57 an the relatively fixed sprockets 69 which are driven by suitable mechanism at the same speed. The. relative position of the iilm loops is indicated by full and broken lines. It is to be understood that this form is otherwise similar to the form first described.

This type of projector has certain advantages in that a relatively small turntable may be used.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 5 the reels 72 are mounted in a vertical instead of a horizontal position, and the entire projector mechanism 71 is mounted upon a table 70 including an annular plate 73 having a race 74 for ball bearings 75 which also rotate in an annular plate 76 supported upon the cabinet walls 77. The projection lamp 78, condensers 79, pulldown mechanism 80, objective 81, and reflector 82 are all mounted upon a s lide 83 which may move on pins 84 which pass throu h slots 85. Thus the mechanism above escribed may be moved downwardly so that the door 86 may close the openin 87 in the top 88 of the cabinet, or this mec anism may be moved up into the operative position shown in Fi 5. When in the inoperative position the lin loops 89 are of suicient length to permit the upward `mo vement of the sli In this form, like those previously `described, there is a substantial y soundproof connection between the tubular member 90k and the door 87 so that the noise of the mechanism enclosed in the cabinet section is so muled as to be unobtrusive.

In Fig. 6 the construction shown is a modilication of that shown in Fig. 5. The projector 90 is mounted with the reels in substantially vertical alignment. The horizontal objective 91 projects a beam through reflecting prism 92 vertically to reflector 98 which directs it in a substantially horizontal direction through window 94 of the tubular member 95 which is carried by and may be slid down into the tubular housing 96. This construction provides a sound-tight exit for the light beam. The projector *V90 is mounted upon a table 97 which may move upon a central post 98, and which is preferably provided with a counter-balancing weight 99 opposite the projector 4. In this form as in those previously described, the axis of rotation is coincident with a vertical portion of the axis of the rojection beam.

In igs. 7 and 8 the. cabinet section 2 may be provided with a turntable y100 which turns upon a post 101 which is not in line with the optical axis of objective 102. This table carries a lamp 103, condensers 104, pulldown 105, and film gate 106, the film F being moved by the pulldown and by sprockets 107 from the supply reel 108 to the takeup reel 109. The table may be adjusted upon an annular plate 110 having arcuate grooves 111 through which bolts 112 may pass. Wing nuts 113 are provided so that the table 100 may be fastened in an adjusted position. This is sometimes useful since after once being set the machine may be used without further attention by merely opening the top 114 which is pivoted at 115 to the rear Wall 116 of the cabinet. This permits only limited angular ad'ustment.

n the last described embodiment of my invention it is not ne-cessar to have an opening through which the light h than the cover 114 of the cabinet. While this has certain advantages it limits thev useful angle throu h which a light beam may be directed, an also does not have an advantage shown in the other forms for greatly reducing the noise of the machine by enclosing the working parts.

It is to be noted that in all of the above described forms, the instruments are completely enclosed when not in use, in an ornamental cabinet which may be permanently located, as an article of furniture, 1n an obtrusive position. When desired, it may be used by posi- -that the projector and eam may 'pass other particularly useful for the combined use of a motion picture projector and a sound reproducing instrument, the noise of the former not interfering with the latter and the latter and its accessory parts not interferlng with the former.

In the accompanying drawings it is to be understood that the structural details of the motion picture projector, the phonograph, and tlie radio/apparatus aie not given since they are not necessary to an understanding of the present invention; but that mechanisms of well known type may be used, and honograph are, as is now common, driven rom electric motors or from a common electric motor.

It is obvious that numerous embodiments of my invention arepossible, and I conteinplate as included therein all suoli modifications and equivalents as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-l ters Patent is,-

1. In combination, a frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame on a vertical axis, a motion picture projector carried by said 'support and operative to project motion pictures at any desired angular position of said support and including a projection gate and an optical system for projecting a beam horizontally, a cabinet enclosing said support and projector, parts of said cabinet being movable to permit the emergence of light from saidcabinet and to permit said optical system to throw a horizontal beam from the cabinet, whereby the direction 9i said beam may bey adjusted by angular movement of the support.

2. In combination, a frame, a cabinet, a pivotally mounted support within said cabinet, a motion picture projector carried by said support and operative to -project motion pictures at any desired angular position of said support and including a projection gate and an optical system for projecting a beam of light from said gate, the cabinet having a movable door and completely enclosing the projector when the door is closed and, when said door is open, permitting the passage of a beam of light `from said optical system for projection on a distant screen, the optical system and projector being adjustable by .the angular movement of the support whereby the position of the screen may be varied with respect to the cabinet.

3. In combination, a frame, a cabinet, a

ivotally mounted support within said cabinet, a motion picture rojector carried by said support and operative to project motion pictures at any desired angular position of said support and including a projection gate and an optical system for projecting a beam of light from said gate, the cabinet having,r a movable door and completely enclosing the projector when tlie door is closed and, when said door is open, permitting tlie passage of a beam of light from said optical system for projection on a distant screen, means for closing the cabinet to the passage of sound waves when the door is open, the optical system and projector being adjustable by the angular movement of the support whereby the position ofthe screen may be varied with respect to the cabinet.

4. In combination, a frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame on a vertical axis, a motion picture projector carried by said support and including a projection gate and an optical system, the optical system including elements for directing a beam vertically from tlie gate and a reflector for directing the beam horizontally, a cabinet entirely Venclosing said support and rojector, a part of said cabinet being mova 1e to open said cabinet and permit said o tical system to pro'ect horizontall a motion picture from sai gate, the direction of said beam being adjusta le by angular movement of the support'.

5. In combination, a' frame, a support pivotallj,l mounted on said frame on a vertical axis, a motion picture projector carried by said support and including a projection gate and an optical system, the optical system including elements fory directing a beam vertically from the gate and a refiector for directing the beam horizontally, a cabinet entirely enclosing said support and rojectoi, a art of said cabinet being movableJ to open said cabinet and permit said optical system to pro'ect horizontally a motion picture from sai gate, the direction of said beam being adjustable by angular movement of the suport, tlie optical axis of the vertical beam eing coincident with the axis of rotation of the support.

6. ln-combination, a frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame on a vertical axis, a motion (picture projector carried by said support an including a projection gate, mechanism for advancing film past said gate and an optical system for projecting a beam from said gate to a distant screen, said o tical system including elements for defining and directing the beam verticall and'elements for directing the beam angu arly from a vertical direction, a cabinet enclosing said support and projector, and including a cover wall, at least a part of which is movable to open said cabinet and permit the opticalsystem to project an image from said cabinet, the direction oflsuch projection being adjust-- Y -able b angular movement pf the support.

7. n combination, a frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame on a vertical axis, Ya motion picture projector carried by said support and including a projection gate, mechanism for advancing film past said gate and an optical system for projecting a beam f i-oin said gate to a distant screen, said optical system including elements for defining and directing the beam vertically and elements for directing the beam angularly from a vertical direction, a cabinet enclosing said support and projector, and including a cover wall, at least a part of which is movable to open said cabinet and permit the optical system to project an image from said cabinet, the direction of such projection being adjustable by angular movement of the sup ort, the optical axis of the vertically directe portion of the beam being coincident with the axis of rotation of the su port.

8. In combination, a frame, a support pivotal`y mounted on said frame on a vertical axis, a motion (picture projector carried by said support an including a projection gate, mechanism for advancing film past said gate and an optical system for projecting a beam from said gate to a distant screen, said optical system including elements for' defining and directing the beam vertically and elements for directing the beam angularly from a vertical direction, a cabinet enclosing said support and projector, and including a cover wal at least a part of which is movable to open said cabinet and permit the optical system to project an image from said cabinet, the direction of such projection being adjustable by an lar movement of the support, and means or closing the cabinet to the passage of sound waves from said mechanism when the said cover wall is open for the projection of images.

9. In combination, a frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame on a vertical axis, a motion icture projector carried by said support an including a projection gate, mechanism for advancing film past saidgate and an o tical system for projecting a beam from sai gate to a distant screen, said optical system including elements for defining and directing the beam verticall and elements for directing'the beam angu arly from a vertical direction, a cabinet enclosing said support and projector, and including a cover wal at least a part of which is movable to open said cabinet and permit the optical system to project an image from said cabinet, the direction of such projection being adjustable by angular movement of the support, the optical axis of the vertically directed portion of the beam being coincident with the axis of rotation of the sup rt, and means for closing the cabinet to as passage of sound Waves from said mechanism when the said cover wall is open for the projection of imsi 10. In combination alcabinet having two compartments, a support within one ooxnpai'tment pivotally mounted on a vert-ical axis, a motion picture projector carried b said support in said compartment and inclu ing a gate, film advancin mechanism and an optical system for projecting a beam of light from said gate, a part of the cabinet in the path of the beam being open for the passage of light but closed by light transparent media to the assage of sound from the projector mechanism, the o tical system including means for directing t e beam horizontally from the cabinet, the direction of the beam being horizontally adjustable by rotation of the turntable whereby an image may be projected in correct alignment in a desired direction, a sound reproducing instruinent within the other compartment, a door in the cabinet permitting access to the instrument, the door and instrument being positioned, when in use, outy of the path of the projected horizontal beam, wheieby when the projector and instrument are simultaneously in use, the sounds of the projector mechanism will be muiiied by the first closed compartinent and will not interfere with sounds from the instrument and the beam from the projector may be thrown in a selected direction without obstruction due to the use of the instrument. e

11. Iii combination, a cabinet, a support within said 'cabinet pivotally mounted on a vertical axle, a motion picture projector carried by said support and including a projection gate. mechanism for advancing film past said gate and an optical system for projecting a beam of light fromsaid gate, a part of the cabinet in the path of the beam being open for the passage olf` light but closed by light transparent media to the passage of sound from the projector, the optical system including means for directing the beam horizontally from the cabinet, the direction of the beam being horizontally adjustable by movement of the turntable whereby an image may be projected in correct alignment in a desired direction, a sound'reproducing instrument within the cabinet, a door in the cabinet permitting access to the instrument, the door and instrument being positioned, when the instrument is in use, out of the path of the projected horizontal beam, whereby when the projector and instrument are simultan'eously in use, the sounds of the projector mechanism will be confined to the cabinet, and will not interfere with sounds from the instrument and the beam from the rojector may be thrown in a selected direction without obstruction due to the use of the instrument.

12. In combination, a cabinet, a motion picture projector within said cabinet having a window, means for positioning an image bearing element `for projection from said window, one edge of the window being a base line for the image to be projected, an optical system for projecting abeam horizontally from the cabinet, means for adjustin the horizontal angle of such projected am whereby it ma be directed in a desired direction from t e cabinet, and means for insuring that the image of the base line edge will be projected in the same relation to the beam at any angular position thereof, parts of the cabinet beinA movable to permit the emergence of light rom said cabinet and to permit said optical system to throw a horizontal beam in a desired angular direction.

13. lIn combination. a cabinet including a fixed frame, a motion picture projector within said cabinet having a rectangular window and an optical system for projecting an image from said window, means for positioning an image bearing element for projection from said window, one edge of the window constituting a base line for an image to be projected, said:q optical system including elements for directing the beam vertically and a mirror for reflecting the beam at an angle to the vertical, the mirror being ro. tatable on a vertical axis whereby the eam may be directed in a desired direction from the cabinet, and means insuring that light rays from the window will be directed to the mirror at any kposition thereof in such a relation that the projected image of the base line edge will be at the same relative position at any angular position of the beam, parts of the cabinet being movable to permit the emergence of light from the cabinet and to permit said optical system to throw a beam in a desired angular direction.

14. In combination, a cabinet including a fixed frame, a motion picture projector within said cabinet having a rectangular window and an optical system for projecting an image from said window, means for positioning an image bearing element for projection from said window, one edge of the window constitutin a base line for an image to be projected, sai optical system including elements for directing the earn vertically and a mirror for reflecting the beam at an angle to the vertical, the mirror bein rotatable on a vertical axis whereby the eam may be directed in a desired direction from the cabinet and rotatable means for turning the rojected beam from the window whereby t e image of the window projected from the cabinet may at any angular position of the beam have the same relative position in the beam.

15. In combination, a cabinet including a Afixed frame, a motion picture pro'ector within said cabinet having a rectangu ar window and an optical s stem for projecting an image from said window, means for positioning an image bearing element for projection from said window, one edge of the window constituting a base line for an image to be projected, said optical system including elements for directing the beam vertically and a mirror for reecting the beam at an angle to the vertical, the mirror beinerotatabe on a vertical axis whereby the am may be directed in a desired direction from the cabinet, and rotatable means for turning the ro'ected beam from the window whereby t e image o the window rojected from the cabinet may at any anffu ar position of the beam have the same mative position in the beam. parts of the cabinet being movable to permit the emergence of light from the cabinet and to permit said optical s stem to throw a beam in a desired an lar irection.

Signed at Rochester, New Ork, this 26th day of August, 1927.

ADOLPH STUBER. 

